Jeremiah33
New King James Version
1Moreover the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah a second time, while he was still shut up in the court of the prison, saying,
2“Thus says the Lord who made it, the Lord who formed it to establish it (the Lord is His name):
3‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’
4“For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city and the houses of the kings of Judah, which have been pulled down to fortify against the siege mounds and the sword:
5‘They come to fight with the Chaldeans, but only to fill their places with the dead bodies of men whom I will slay in My anger and My fury, all for whose wickedness I have hidden My face from this city.
6Behold, I will bring it health and healing; I will heal them and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth.
7And I will cause the captives of Judah and the captives of Israel to return, and will rebuild those places as at the first.
8I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned and by which they have transgressed against Me.
9Then it shall be to Me a name of joy, a praise, and an honor before all nations of the earth, who shall hear all the good that I do to them; they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and all the prosperity that I provide for it.’
10“Thus says the Lord: ‘Again there shall be heard in this place—of which you say, “It is desolate, without man and without beast”—in the cities of Judah, in the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man and without inhabitant and without beast,
11the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who will say: “Praise the Lord of hosts, For the Lord is good, For His mercy endures forever”— and of those who will bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord. For I will cause the captives of the land to return as at the first,’ says the Lord.
12“Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘In this place which is desolate, without man and without beast, and in all its cities, there shall again be a dwelling place of shepherds causing their flocks to lie down.
13In the cities of the mountains, in the cities of the lowland, in the cities of the South, in the land of Benjamin, in the places around Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, the flocks shall again pass under the hands of him who counts them,’ says the Lord.
14‘Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord, ‘that I will perform that good thing which I have promised to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah:
15‘In those days and at that time I will cause to grow up to David A Branch of righteousness; He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.
16In those days Judah will be saved, And Jerusalem will dwell safely. And this is the name by which she will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.’
17“For thus says the Lord: ‘David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel;
18nor shall the priests, the Levites, lack a man to offer burnt offerings before Me, to kindle grain offerings, and to sacrifice continually.’ ”
19And the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying,
20“Thus says the Lord: ‘If you can break My covenant with the day and My covenant with the night, so that there will not be day and night in their season,
21then My covenant may also be broken with David My servant, so that he shall not have a son to reign on his throne, and with the Levites, the priests, My ministers.
22As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, nor the sand of the sea measured, so will I multiply the descendants of David My servant and the Levites who minister to Me.’ ”
23Moreover the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying,
24“Have you not considered what these people have spoken, saying, ‘The two families which the Lord has chosen, He has also cast them off’? Thus they have despised My people, as if they should no more be a nation before them.
25“Thus says the Lord: ‘If My covenant is not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth,
26then I will cast away the descendants of Jacob and David My servant, so that I will not take any of his descendants to be rulers over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For I will cause their captives to return, and will have mercy on them.’ ”
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Jeremiah 33.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The restoration of the Jews. (1-13). The Messiah promised; happiness of his times. (14-26).
vv1-13
Those who expect to receive comforts from God, must call upon him. Promises are given, not to do away, but to quicken and encourage prayer. These promises lead us to the gospel of Christ; and in that God has revealed truth to direct us, and peace to make us easy. All who by sanctifying grace are cleansed from the filth of sin, by pardoning mercy are freed from the guilt. When sinners are thus justified, washed, and sanctified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Holy Spirit, they are enabled to walk before God in peace and purity. Many are led to perceive the real difference between the people of God and the world around them, and to fear the Divine wrath. It is promised that the people who were long in sorrow, shall again be filled with joy. Where the Lord gives righteousness and peace, he will give all needful supplies for temporal wants; and all we have will be comforts, as sanctified by the word and by prayer.
vv14-26
To crown the blessings God has in store, here is a promise of the Messiah. He imparts righteousness to his church, for he is made of God to us righteousness; and believers are made the righteousness of God in him. Christ is our Lord God, our righteousness, our sanctification, and our redemption. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. But in this world prosperity and adversity succeed each other, as light and darkness, day and night. The covenant of priesthood shall be secured. And all true believers are a holy priesthood, a royal priesthood, they offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God; themselves, in the first place, as living sacrifices. The promises of that covenant shall have full accomplishment in the gospel Israel. In Gal. 6:16, all that walk according to the gospel rule, are made to be the Israel of God, on whom shall be peace and mercy. Let us not despise the families which were of old the chosen people of God, though for a time they seem to be cast off.
Key Words
דָּבָר: a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
אָמַר: to say (used with great latitude)
יִרְמְיָה: Jirmejah, the name of eight or nine Israelites
שֵׁנִי: properly, double, i.e. second; also adverbially, again
עָצָר: to inclose; by analogy, to hold back; also to maintain, rule, assemble
חָצֵר: a yard (as inclosed by a fence); also a hamlet (as similarly surrounded with walls)
מַטָּרָא: a jail (as a guard-house); also an aim (as being closely watched)
כֹּה: properly, like this, i.e. by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
עָשָׂה: to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
יָצַר: to mould into a form; especially as apotter; figuratively, to determine (i.e. form a resolution)
Cross References
Jeremiah 33Direct verbal parallel promising the righteous Branch of David to execute judgment.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Parallel designation of the Messiah/city as "The Lord our righteousness" (Jehovah Tsidkenu).
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Uses identical metaphorical language of bringing health and cure to wounded Zion.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Historical fulfillment where returning exiles sang these exact words of praise in Jerusalem.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Establishes the historical setting: Jeremiah shut up in the court of the prison.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Parallels God forming His purpose from ancient times to execute it.
Supported by JFB
Connects God's promise of restoration with the requirement to call and pray.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Thematic link of calling upon the Lord and receiving His answer.
Supported by JFB
Parallel mention of the siege mounts thrown up against Jerusalem's houses.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Parallels cleansing from iniquity using the imagery of ritual purification.
Supported by JFB
Echoes Israel being created to be a name, praise, and glory to God.
Supported by JFB
Explains the practice of sheep passing under the hand/rod of the shepherd.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallels the apostle's prison experience: though bound, God's word is not.
Supported by JFB
Exalts the pardoning grace of God who passes over transgressions.
Supported by JFB
New Testament application of the covenant promises to the "Israel of God."
Supported by Matthew Henry
Identifies the significance of "the LORD" (Jehovah) as His covenant name.
Supported by JFB